CONFIDENTIAL paperwork about a youngster being monitored by social services went missing after a bungling council worker left his notes on a train.

Bromley Council says one of its officers was travelling by train between Orpington and Chislehurst for an appointment but alighted without picking up handwritten paperwork about the family he was due to visit.

Despite the social worker informing train station bosses at Orpington, news of the loss took two days to filter through to council chiefs and then the police.

The notes have never been recovered and the social worker involved has since resigned.

Bromley Council bosses admit the disappearance of the “sensitive personal data” on the evening of July 17 was down to human error and breached the Data Protection Act.

They have refused to divulge any more details about the child involved or the information lost, but say the child’s mother has decided not to take any further action.

A detailed report into breach has also revealed a similar incident happened in May.

On that occasion a locum social worker sent confidential case notes to 49 conservative councillors by accident.

Immediate recall

A council spokesman said managers were informed of the mix-up within 25 minutes and the email was immediately recalled.

The council’s director of children and young people services Gillian Pearson said: “Any loss of data is regrettable particularly when it relates to confidential child case documentation.

“In both cases as soon as managers were alerted to the breaches, prompt action was taken.

“We will do everything necessary to reduce the risks of an incident of this nature re occurring.”

The outcome of an investigation into both breaches is expected to be discussed by councillors at a meeting on Monday evening (September 7).

However, a recent action plan drawn up to help prevent further problems shows the council has already introduced more training for its officers and a working group has been assembled to review working practices.

The Information Commissioner’s Office says it was not compulsory for the council to report the incidents, and the information watchdog has confirmed it is not investigating the local authority over the breach.